飞鸟集·毕业生｜张馨尹：从首届学生，到坚定前行的开路者

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“I’d rather take initiative in choosing my future than let the outcome decide it for me.”

Katherine is a founding graduate of the AP program at ISA Wuhan. During the first month of Grade 10, she was studying at The High School Affiliated to Central China Normal University, a top local school in Wuhan. But she soon made the bold decision to transfer to ISA Wuhan and become one of the first students to choose this brand-new path.

It wasn’t an easy choice—leaving a prestigious public high school for an international program raised eyebrows. But she knew clearly: if she wanted to apply to universities in Hong Kong, the traditional Gaokao route might not be the best fit.

Over the next three years, she completed more than 10 AP courses at ISA, earned outstanding SAT and TOEFL scores, and consistently performed well in various math competitions. She also took an active part in school life—joining arts and sports events, volunteering, and leading student clubs, all while expanding her interests and expressive ability.

During application season, she was awarded a full scholarship to the Mathematics program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, along with offers from top institutions such as University College London, University of California, San Diego, and University of Sydney.

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Reflecting on her decision to transfer, Katherine said, “The AP program at ISA Wuhan was just getting started, but I felt it would give me more freedom to explore, plan, and work toward my goals.”

As one of the founding students, Katherine witnessed ISA’s growth from the ground up—from curriculum development and competition support to college counseling. For her, joining ISA wasn’t just a transfer; it was a journey of growing alongside the school.

“ISA’s AP program wasn’t a pre-paved road. It was something our cohort built step by step,” she said. From choosing courses to organizing activities to preparing college applications, Katherine was both a student and a trailblazer. That experience helped her truly understand what it means to find a path that fits.

Here, she found a learning environment that values independent thinking and initiative, and she developed the ability to balance academic rigor with diverse personal interests.

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On January 20th, the whistle blew, and a 12-hour basketball game for charity began in the basketball hall of Wuhan ISA School. 

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“What I’m most grateful for at ISA,” Katherine says, “is that they never asked me to become someone else—they helped me become myself.”

At ISA Wuhan, she received not only strong academic, competition, and college counseling support, but also, more importantly, the steady companionship of teachers, peers, and a campus culture that encouraged self-reflection and growth.

She believes that things with real weight don’t need too much embellishment. Diligent study, consistent performance, and thoughtful planning—that, to her, is the essence of preparing for college.

Katherine is one of the first AP graduates at ISA Wuhan to step onto the global stage. Alongside her peers, she helped build a path for others to follow—not just as a member of the founding class, but as one of its trailblazers.

“To me,” she says, “ISA has never been just a school. It’s where I was given the space to try, to choose, and to grow. No one ever told me who to become. What they cared about was: ‘What do you want to do, and how can we help you get there?’”

Now, Katherine is preparing to head to Hong Kong, where she will continue her journey in mathematics.

And as one of ISA Wuhan’s very first graduates, she will also become part of the school’s earliest legacy.

May she carry the rhythm and confidence built over these three years, as she leaves ISA for the world of math she loves—and beyond.